Purdue/Illinois overview:

[nagemj02]

When: Tuesday, January 17th

Where: Mackey Arena

Tip-Off: 7 (ET)

TV: BTN


Head Coaches:

Purdue: Matt Painter (12th season)

Illinois: John Groce (5th season)


Illinois' Team Stats: http://www.fightingillini.com/cumestats.aspx?path=mbball&



Projected Starters

Purdue:

1/2 #3 Carsen Edwards 6'0 185 (Fr.): averaging 10.3 PPG, 3 RPG, 38% FG's (68-180), 66% FT's (25-38), 30% 3PT's (24-80), and 22.7 MPG in 18 GP this season

2/1 #11 P.J. Thompson 5'10 175 (Jr.): averaging 7.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 47% FG's (49-105), 69% FT's (9-13), 40% 3PT's (30-76), and 28 MPG in 18 GP this season

2 #31 Dakota Mathias 6'4 195 (Jr.): averaging 9.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 46% FG's (61-132), 84% FT's (16-19), 48% 3PT's (39-81), and 30.4 MPG in 18 GP this season

3/4 #12 Vince Edwards 6'8 215 (Jr.): averaging 12 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.1 TPG, 48% FG's (77-162), 83% FT's (34-41), 44% 3PT's (28-63), and 27.2 MPG in 18 GP this season

5/4 #50 Caleb "Biggie" Swanigan 6'9 245 (So.): averaging 18.2 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 3.4 TPG, 2.5 FPG, 56% FG's (113-202), 78% FT's (86-111), 47% 3PT's (16-34), and 31.8 MPG in 18 GP this season


Illinois:

1 #13 Tracy Abrams 6'1 180 (RS Sr.) (has redshirted each of the past two seasons due to injury): averaging 9.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.6 APG, 46% FG's (62-134), 74% FT's (25-34), 46% 3PT's (30-66), and 25.6 MPG in 18 GP this season

2 #5 Jalen Coleman-Lands 6'3 180 (So.): averaging 9.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 37% FG's (54-145), 78% FT's (14-18), 39% 3PT's (41-106), and 25.9 MPG in 18 GP this season

3/2 #21 Malcolm Hill 6'6 220 (Sr.): averaging 18.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 44% FG's (98-223), 80% FT's (98-123), 38% 3PT's (33-87), and 32.4 MPG in 18 GP this season

4 #12 Leron Black 6'7 230 (RS So.) (RS last season due to injury): averaging 10.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 FPG, 49% FG's (54-111), 80% FT's (32-40), 25% 3PT's (3-12), and 21.9 MPG in 14 GP this season

5/4 #22 Maverick Morgan 6'10 240 (Sr.): averaging 10.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 61% FG's (72-119), 68% FT's (38-56), no 3PT's attempted, and 22 MPG in 18 GP this season



Projected Reinforcements:

Purdue:

1 #55 Michael "Spike" Albrecht 5'11 180 (RS Sr.): averaging 1.7 PPG, 18% FG's (4-22), 100% FT's (9-9), 14% 3PT's (2-14), and 12.7 MPG in 11 GP this season

2 #14 Ryan Cline 6'5 190 (So.): averaging 7.2 PPG, 2 RPG, 44% FG's (33-75), 78% FT's (7-9), 45% 3PT's (28-62), and 21.2 MPG in 14 GP this season

3/4 #5 Basil Smotherman 6'6 225 (RS Jr.) (left-handed shooter): averaging 4.2 PPG, 57% FG's (29-51), 55% FT's (6-11), 30% 3PT's (3-10), and 12.8 MPG in 16 GP this season

5 #44 Isaac Haas 7'2 280 (Jr.): averaging 13.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.2 TPG, 60% FG's (82-136), 71% FT's (76-107), no 3PT's attempted, and 21.8 MPG in 18 GP this season


Illinois:

1 #1 Jaylon Tate 6'2 170 (Sr.): averaging 2.8 PPG, 3.5 APG, 33% FG's (13-39), 67% FT's (20-30), 20% 3PT's (2-10), and 18.8 MPG in 17 GP this season

1/2 #3 Te'Jon Lucas 5'11 165 (Fr.): averaging 3.5 PPG, 2.5 APG, 61% FG's (17-28), 53% FT's (9-17), 50% 3PT's (3-6), and 13 MPG in 13 GP this season

2 #23 Aaron Jordan 6'5 185 (So.): averaging 1.4 PPG, 35% FG's (7-20), 50% FT's (1-2), 43% 3PT's (6-14), and 7.7 MPG in 15 GP this season

3/4 #2 Kipper Nichols 6'6 215 (Fr.) (transferred from Tulane prior to the start of last season: became eligible in mid-December): averaging 3.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 62% FG's (8-13), 100% FT's (2-2), 50% 3PT's (1-2), and 9 MPG in 5 GP this season

4/5 #43 Michael Finke 6'10 230 (RS So.): averaging 7.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 50% FG's (48-97), 58% FT's (14-24), 38% 3PT's (19-50), and 19.9 MPG in 18 GP this season

5 #33 Mike Thorne 6'10 270 (RS Sr.) (redshirted last season due to injury) (graduate transfer from UNC-Charlotte): averaging 5.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 57% FG's (41-72), 50% FT's (13-26), no 3PT's attempted, and 15.2 MPG in 16 GP this season


Who Might Play:

Illinois:

2 #44 Alex Austin 6'3 185 (RS Sr.) (son of former Purdue standout Woody Austin): averaging 0.4 PPG, 20% FG's (1-5), no FT's attempted, 0% 3PT's (0-3), and 2.2 MPG in 5 GP this season


Who Won't Play:

Illinois:

3/4 #0 D.J. Williams 6'7 205 (So.): averaging 2.6 PPG, 43% FG's (16-37), 60% FT's (3-5), 22% 3PT's (2-9), and 9.9 MPG in 14 GP this season (taking a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons: the timetable for his return is unknown)

 

[big10best]

If we phone it in the way we did against Iowa or Minny, we lose by 10.

 

[boilerzz]

If we phone it in the way we did against Iowa or Minny, we lose by 10.

Ha! We? Who you calling we?

 

[big10best]

Ha! We? Who you calling we?

The basketball team. Follow closely please.

 

[Erock_94]

go back to the IU board and take Feace and fkfootball with you lol.

Should be a good game, gut check for Purdue.

 

[Boiler Buck]

Which Illinois player do we make a one night all american out of?

 

[krazyjvilled]

Abrams

 

[FirstDownB]

If you believe in the ebbs and flows and importance of home court, then coming off a tough road loss Purdue should roll at home vs. the Illini.

 

[TC4THREE]

If Groce follows the lead of other conference coaches, I think they'll try to go to Maverick Morgan in the post early and often. Take it right at Swanigan and he'll provide little resistance.

 

[big10best]

Which Illinois player do we make a one night all american out of?

I am sure Malcom Hill will drop 30 on us.

 

[TC4THREE]

I am sure Malcom Hill will drop 30 on us.

Depends. Are you talking about IU or MSU? Can't tell for sure just yet.

 

[PaBoiler78]

Abrams

guy has been there forever.

 

[PaBoiler78]

Depends. Are you talking about IU or MSU? Can't tell for sure just yet.

it's time to get back on track, even msu lost to osu on sunday.

 

[big10best]

Have watched Illinois play a couple
times this year. They are athletic and have multiple weapons on offense and one potiential all B1G player in Hill. This type of team tends to give Purdue fits. If Hill scores over 20 points, we
Lose

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

guy has been there forever.

Missed two seasons due to injury, so yeah....it seems like forever. Can't help pulling for a kid who battles through that kind of adversity.....except for tonight, obviously.

IIRC, he had a really nice game against the Boilers in RH's final year (2012). He certainly has the potential to do some damage as does Hill, who had a monster game last year in Champaign-Urbana. That game went a ways toward putting the Boilers behind in the conference race.

I expect the Boilers to come out better and play a sharper game, but Illinois certainly has some players that could give Purdue some problems.

 

[TopSecretBoiler]

Missed two seasons due to injury, so yeah....it seems like forever. Can't help pulling for a kid who battles through that kind of adversity.....except for tonight, obviously.

IIRC, he had a really nice game against the Boilers in RH's final year (2012). He certainly has the potential to do some damage as does Hill, who had a monster game last year in Champaign-Urbana. That game went a ways toward putting the Boilers behind in the conference race.

I expect the Boilers to come out better and play a sharper game, but Illinois certainly has some players that could give Purdue some problems.

we got this. we are the masters of our domain.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

we got this. we are the masters of our domain.

Hopefully, none of this.....then......

 

[HartPU]

Have watched Illinois play a couple
times this year. They are athletic and have multiple weapons on offense and one potiential all B1G player in Hill. This type of team tends to give Purdue fits. If Hill scores over 20 points, we
Lose

Illinois is not very athletic. Hill will probably get his, but the key is making him work for it. If he scores 20, we could be fine. The key is not letting him get 30.

Illinois is a jump shooting team. They have few players that can get to the rim, so if they are not hitting outside shots, Purdue will win big. It will take Illinois shooting +50% for them to win. Will Purdue allow that at home and for a second straight game? I doubt it.

I'll take Purdue in this one.

 

[nagemj02]

guy has been there forever.

LOL, yeah Abrams was starting his freshman season and was matched up against and trash-talking with Lewis Jackson. That's five years ago but in some ways it seems longer than that.

Illinois has another guy that's a 6th-year senior (Mike Thorne) but he was at UNC-Charlotte for his first four seasons (redshirted his true freshman season and then redshirted at Illinois last season due to injury).

 

[nagemj02]

Illinois is not very athletic. Hill will probably get his, but the key is making him work for it. If he scores 20, we could be fine. The key is not letting him get 30.

Illinois is a jump shooting team. They have few players that can get to the rim, so if they are not hitting outside shots, Purdue will win big. It will take Illinois shooting +50% for them to win. Will Purdue allow that at home and for a second straight game? I doubt it.

I'll take Purdue in this one.

Hill, Abrams, Lucas, and Tate can all get to the rim (and draw fouls) as well. Hill has a shot-fake he likes to use before getting into the lane.

 

[nagemj02]

Illinois is not very athletic. Hill will probably get his, but the key is making him work for it. If he scores 20, we could be fine. The key is not letting him get 30.

Illinois is a jump shooting team. They have few players that can get to the rim, so if they are not hitting outside shots, Purdue will win big. It will take Illinois shooting +50% for them to win. Will Purdue allow that at home and for a second straight game? I doubt it.

I'll take Purdue in this one.

I think both teams are fairly evenly-matched athletically, especially if Painter ever gives Smotherman significant playing time like he did in non-conference play.

 

[Erock_94]

Have watched Illinois play a couple
times this year. They are athletic and have multiple weapons on offense and one potiential all B1G player in Hill. This type of team tends to give Purdue fits. If Hill scores over 20 points, we
Lose

Who we?

 

[nagemj02]

That was a strong showing on Top Gun night. They handled a zone defense better this time and the towers of terror really got going.

However, I still believe Painter needs to practice a 2-3, a 1-3-1, a 2-3 trap or something because the man D (no matter how they're playing it: sagged in, with more weak-side help or not, etc.) will eventually get broken down by good teams (regular season and NCAA Tournament) and then the coaches will be thinking "what should we do" and Painter will have something else to go to for once. I will be more satisfied if they lose in the NCAA's having tried different options rather than if they lose playing man D every single possession.